Bourg woman seeks damages for flu shot

Thursday

Nov 25, 2010 at 12:01 AM

Eric HeisigStaff Writer

HOUMA — A woman is suing L.E. Fletcher Technical Community College, claiming a poorly administered flu shot delivered by a nursing student caused “severe and debilitating injuries,” according to court documents.A petition for damages, filed by Houma attorney Brent Rhodes on behalf of Cynthia and Raleigh Thibodeaux, of Bourg, said the couple is seeking money for the injuries as well as emotional damage. The suit says damages exceed $50,000.The petition says Cynthia Thibodeaux went to receive a flu shot on Sept. 16, 2009, at the Terrebonne General Medical Center Outreach in Southland Mall. Mamie Ross, a nursing student from Fletcher Technical Community College allegedly administered the shot with “considerable force into the top of her right shoulder joint.”Thibodeaux bled profusely after the shot, but the bleeding stopped 30 minutes later, the petition said. Later that day, Thibodeaux could not lift her arm, so she went to Terrebonne General Medical Center.As a result of the shot, Thibodeaux allegedly had shoulder and joint pain, a torn rotator cuff, and other problems, and she had surgery to correct the problem. The petition claims Terrebonne General Medical Center representatives told the Thibodeaux family that they would pay the family’s medical bills, but they later denied saying so.Ray Louviere, a claims adjuster for the state, said that Rhodes had not paid for a proper medical review panel from the state of Louisiana.“Brent Rhodes submitted the claim and wrote to the hospital and college, and it’s supposed to be written to the state medical review panel,” Louviere said.Louviere said the claim currently has no grounds.“It’s still not worth the paper it’s written on,” Louviere said. “If we receive the petition, it’ll be dismissed. They’ll learn and request the panel.”Louviere said until a proper medical review panel is administered, the state will not pay damages.The petition was delivered to Fletcher Foundation chairman L.J. Folse. However, Folse said he doesn’t know why the lawsuit was served to him, because the claim is being made against the college, not the foundation.Rhodes did not return several calls requesting comment.

Staff Writer Eric Heisig can be reached at 857-2202 or eric.heisig@houmatoday.com. Follow him on Twitter @TerrebonneCrime.